Another clear and sunny day with a light southerly breeze and temperatures reaching almost 16 degrees Celsius.
Cabin fever set in here with no-one but a few walkers along the footpath for a second day! A male Cetti's Warbler was swearing near to the Broadwater hide and Chiffchaffs singing in various spots with at least 6 noted. A pair of Stonechats were along the approach track again. More general migratory activity was visible, with a light passage of Meadow Pipits through the dunes. The pines were shedding their cones and seeds attracting mixed flocks of Linnets and Goldfinches. On the grazing marshes slightly reduced numbers of Wigeon and Brent today, with 300 and 150 respectively. A Barn Owl was hunting at the east end of Holme village early morning and a small party of 16 grumbling Pink-feet dropped in on the marsh opposite the Obs during the afternoon. Otherwise it was rather quiet again.
Moth traps produced 4 Hebrew Characters this time so that's one up on yesterday! Brimstone, Peacock and four Small Tortoiseshell was the total for butterflies, and a newt was in the pond.
Norfolk News from RARE BIRD ALERT
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Norfolk Black Redstart Cantley beet factory on coal dump viewable from footpath at 8am
Norfolk Black Redstart Cley by beach car park
Norfolk Short-eared Owl y'day Haddiscoe Marsh
Holme Bird Observatory (Header)
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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE – NOA RESERVES TO RE-OPEN FROM MONDAY 13TH JULY 2020
We are delighted to announce that we will be welcoming visitors back to Holme Bird Observatory from Monday 13th July 2020, and we are very much looking forward to seeing you once again. Thank you to all our members and visitors for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Please be aware that we are not yet able to restore full access.
Some restrictions must continue and these are as follows: Hempton Marsh and Walsey Hills reserves will be re-opening to visitors on 13th July, but hides on these reserves will remain closed. At Holme the following hides will remain closed for the time being: Redwell Marsh hide, Car Park hide, Sea-watching hide, Dell hide and Broadwater hide. The Bus-Stop, Dowson and Richardson hides will be accessible to one household at a time, and the viewing platform and seating area outside the cordon will be available as well, with social distancing in place. The Observatory building will also remain closed to visitors, but a member of staff will be able to come out to meet you. We do regret that for now visitors will not be able to empty moth traps with our staff, but we will retain specimens of special interest for visitors to view at a safe distance. We will continue to charge day permit fees.
We are very sorry not to offer a fuller visitor experience just yet, but these measures are for everyone's safety and we do appreciate your understanding. We will continue to review hide closures, and will post any changes on our website.
